Act Ten
Shen Qianzhan had this intention, carrying her bag, she skillfully pushed open the hidden door and walked towards Ji Qinghe's studio
The sluggish mind recalled after a few seconds that she had received a call from the property management earlier today, informing her that all her packages had been delivered to her doorstep
He stood in the center of the courtyard, feigning digestion, and performed a set of makeshift Tai Chi. From shuffling the cards, building the Great Wall, to drawing cards and revealing hands, Meng Wangzhou spent nearly ten minutes making his way from the central courtyard to the eaves of the front hall.
She unlocked the door and entered the house, first placing the delivery code in the entrance hall.
"Isn't he an old friend?" He glanced sideways at Ji Qinghe, swiftly changing the water to clean the fish tank: "It seems like just a fleeting acquaintance."
Shen Qianzhan raised an eyebrow, vaguely guessing that with Ai Yi, the troublemaker, around, Su Zan would likely have a rather unpleasant evening
At present, organizing the express delivery, she sat on the entrance mat, panting like a dog
Su Zhan listened and had a face as if he had eaten something unpleasant: "Sister Zhan, you can just tell me that you and General Ji have been secretly involved, and I won't blame you for it. But making up these stories is really uninteresting."
Ji Qinghe was sitting in the armchair near the screen, waiting for the water to boil
She looked down and saw the unfinished chronicle of the year compiled by Su Zan
Ah, Zhan Jie. Do you think there is a possibility for us to strive for something with General Manager Ji?" After Su Zan finished speaking, he immediately negated himself: "But I don't even have General Manager Ji's contact information...
He glanced at the somewhat dated children's digital watch and silently raised his gaze
Seeing that Ji Qing did not respond, Meng Wangzhou habitually began to speak to himself: "I must be blind; I always thought that you would get married in this lifetime, either through an arrangement by your family or being discovered by some girl who took the initiative, turning raw rice into cooked rice..."
He turned around in place, and suddenly an idea struck him. He fetched a bucket of water from the courtyard and took it to the front hall to change the water in the fish tank
He began to feel a faint pain in the center of his forehead
Shen Qianzhan was admiring the manicure she had just done in Miyun, and upon hearing this, she did not even lift her head and said, "Believe it or not."
As the car door closed, a document slipped from the gap between the backpack and the coat, landing at her feet in a manner reminiscent of a staged accident
A gentle sound of wind chimes echoed in his ears, followed by the unmistakable sound of high heels stepping lightly, completely unaware of the concept of modesty. He furrowed his brows and turned to look, as Shen Qianzhan was gracefully crossing the empty space of the courtyard, strolling towards him.
What is she doing
Ji Qing lowered her gaze towards the goldfish struggling in the fishing net, seemingly oblivious to what Meng Wangzhou was saying.
The sound that originally disturbed him now resembled the ticking of a clock, each step perfectly aligned with the markings of time.
As expected, Su Zan's tone changed, filled with grievance: "Recently, Qian Qian has been going through a tough time, and Ai Jie seems to have taken some wrong medicine, subtly undermining her while pretending to support her all night. In the end, she even spread rumors, saying that Qian Qian's chance of a comeback is just around the corner, claiming that Qian Deng has recently established a relationship with Bu Zhong Sui, and that Qian Qian's fashion resources will finally soar to new heights."
Before Shen Qianzhan's chair in the office had warmed up, she led Xiang Qianqian straight to the Time Hall. It was only on the way that she had time to share with Su Zhan about her adventures in the Hangjia APP.
When Meng Wangzhou entered with a water bucket, the main light of the tea table was not turned on, and only a few ceiling lights were clearly focused, directly illuminating the screen.
When she initially purchased this apartment, Shen Qianzhan, driven by the intention of living there for the rest of her life, gritted her teeth and acquired a spacious 200-square-meter suite that met her needs for movement.
At this moment, she is alone, navigating against the flow in the bustling scenes of the world illuminated by the river of lights, inevitably feeling a sense of desolation and loneliness
In front of him are three watches, ranging from a children's digital watch, an automatic mechanical watch, to a quartz watch
After parking the car, Shen Qianzhan picked up her coat and backpack, cradling them in her arms, and slammed the car door shut
He did not respond, so Shen Qianzhan could only skip the progress bar and take out three completely different watches from the bag: "I am here to repair watches, which one are you interested in, General Ji?"
The water in the kettle has finally boiled, producing several bubbling sounds of boiling.
Before finishing his words, Ji Qing stood up and left
Shen Qianzhan glanced at the screen and answered the call on speakerphone
Seeing that he was unresponsive, Meng Wangzhou simply changed the subject: "Are you two planning to collaborate on a television series for the old man?"
Ji Qinghe's gaze met Meng Wangzhou's in mid-air through the celadon cup, and a rare ripple of what could be described as surprise appeared on his usually indifferent expression: "Am I being too obvious?"
I had long heard of Shen Qianzhan's reputation, so after a brief conversation last night, I learned that the other party was in Miyun with the crew, and I drove there early in the morning for a face-to-face discussion
Meng Wangzhou did not forget that he was there to change the water in the fish tank. He skillfully retrieved a fine mesh net from under the tea table, and after scooping up all the goldfish from the tank in one go, he placed them beside the tea sea
Shen Qianzhan selectively ignored his words, blinked, and looked at the clock face that had been disassembled into parts, making it unrecognizable: "Is Mr. Ji repairing the watch?"
Meng Wangzhou did not mention that he usually handles common clock issues
She turned on the radio, tuned to the traffic channel, and stopped and went under the guidance of countless traffic lights. After forty minutes, she arrived at the underground garage of the community
At the entrance of Shen Qianzhan's apartment, a camera has been installed. Due to frequent business trips, the device is not only linked to Shen Qianzhan's account but also to Su Zan's mobile device. Whenever there is any movement at the entrance, the device will immediately report the situation
Ji Qinghe simply did not respond this time; he leaned back, adopting a relaxed and casual posture as he waited to continue watching her performance
Meng Wangzhou returned the struggling goldfish to the fish tank and muttered to himself, "So you are unwilling and deliberately putting on airs, is it a tactic to entice Producer Shen with a feigned retreat?"
Ji Qinghe took off his glasses, and his pair of pitch-black eyes stared at her for a few seconds, revealing a hint of barely noticeable amusement: "I am not that surprised."
Over the years, Shen Qianzhan has worked hard in Beijing and accumulated a considerable fortune
The man who believed he had found the correct answer clicked his tongue twice and remarked, "Producer Shen must have been driven away by you. Ji Qing and I are telling you, you can't pursue a girl like this; it easily leads to a funeral."
Shen Qianzhan smiled sweetly, as if the unpleasant parting of last night had never occurred, her tone natural and familiar: "Mr. Ji, we meet again."
The front hall of the Time Hall has always been used to receive guests, and the visitors are special, either collectors of timepieces or traders of second-hand watches. Therefore, the environment of the front hall was designed from the outset as a semi-enclosed private tea room
Su occasionally imitates others, but unless it is an important occasion, she will not easily bring along Xiang Qianqian
Quiet
Shen Qianzhan tugged at the corner of her lips, propping her chin up with one hand, and maliciously winked at him: "Mr. Ji, you are quite forgetful; that night you were almost willing to give me your heart, yet now you are reluctant even to fix a watch?"
I have spent a long time with you and know that your current behavior goes against your nature; unusual occurrences must have their reasons. He trembled as he lifted the teacup and took a sip of water, asking: "But haven't you always been obsessed with repairing clocks to amuse yourself by conquering time? Where did you meet Producer Shen?"
She did not answer directly, but instead retorted, "Is there something?"
One elevator serves one household, ensuring intelligent living.
He scratched his head, feeling somewhat troubled: "Qinghe is not taking on any work; why don't you go directly to find him? I will entertain your friend."
Before she could catch her breath, Su Zan's voice call came through
Shen Qianzhan paused for a moment while unwrapping the plastic seal, and then his heart blossomed with joy: "This is simple. Qianqian hasn't had any engagements recently, right? Have her come to the company tomorrow, and I'll take her to buy a watch."
When I returned, it was just about the end of the workday
Only those with high intelligence are somewhat apprehensive towards Xiang Qianqian: "Sister Zhan, I believe that President Ji should only have an investment interest in the project. If you take me to discuss endorsement resources, could it backfire?"
With a momentary daze, she looked at Su Zan as if seeking help
Ji Qinghe sat in front of the workbench, attentively listening to the sound of the gears operating after the adjustment.
Beside him lay a pair of gold-framed, thin-edged glasses, which he did not know when he had taken off. In the celadon cup, there remained a shallow amount of brown tea, appearing as if it had been brewed for a long time by someone.
Meng Wangzhou was taken aback for a moment, then quickly retorted: "That's not it either"
Meng Wangzhou, who had not yet adapted to the dim light, nearly stepped into the void. He steadied the wooden bucket he was holding, glanced around, and knowingly asked, "Has Producer Shen left?"
Although he did not speak, his gaze seemed to inquire: "Are you insulting me?"
Shen Qianzhan went to Miyun early in the morning
As soon as she exited the elevator, she was astonished by the mountain of packages piled up before her
In addition to a second-hand BMW X5, she also owns a 200-square-meter apartment. Aside from the apartment, which is still under mortgage, she can be said to be well-off enough to support her entire family.
What happened, were you called out?
Knowing Shen Qianzhan's temperament, Su Zhan pursed her lips and replied: "She simply wants to take you to buy a watch, so she has a legitimate reason to meet with President Ji"
As for the endorsement ... Su temporarily comforted himself, as long as the project investment could be secured, the endorsement resources might also fall into his lap
Meng Wangzhou listened to the corner for a long time and finally discovered that something was amiss
Meng Wangzhou was taken aback for a full three seconds upon unexpectedly seeing Shen Qianzhan again so soon, before finally inviting a few people to take their seats
Meng Wangzhou was left speechless: "... ..."
Qian Deng is well-known for being protective of his own. During the time when Shen Qianzhan was with Qian Qian, he personally took charge at every drinking gathering and dining event, showering compliments with every toast, leaving those wealthy patrons who sought to take advantage of the situation unable to even lift their glasses.
He has been pondering this question all night, itching to the point of being restless: "You recently asked me to tidy up the siheyuan next door, which suggests you plan to stay in Beijing for an extended period. If it weren't for the collaboration with Producer Shen, I can't think of any reason for your sudden return to Beijing."
It was already half an hour later when Meng Wangzhou finished tidying up the long table
Su Zan asked: "Sister Zhan, why have you only just arrived home?"
Su was already waiting early in Shen Qianzhan's office with an iced Americano in hand, just waiting for the person to arrive to inquire in detail about the battle objectives of the "watch purchasing plan"
Ji Qinghe looked up but did not respond
It is too quiet
Shen Qianzhan violently opened the box while asking, "So why didn't you take the opportunity to help Xiang Qianqian tear up a few more contracts?"
Ji Qing lowered her gaze
Unfortunately, even after waiting until the iced Americano had warmed up from the heating, I still did not see a trace of Shen Qianzhan.
Shen Qianzhan then shifted her infatuated gaze, glanced at Xiang Qianqian, and said: "Who said I would take you to discuss endorsement resources? I am not your agent; the matter of tearing apart resources is not my responsibility"
"It's not really a big deal," Su Zan said. "I took Qian Qian to a dinner party tonight and ran into Sister Ai."
It is precisely the evening hours when the sun sets in the west, shrouded in a thin, dim mist
Tonight, Su can take Xiang Qianqian to the gathering, and with Ai Yi present, there are at least three significant benefactors at this table
Her recent search for a screenwriter to revise the script is no secret within the industry. Last night, before going to bed, a director who had previously collaborated with Shen Qianzhan recommended a prominent screenwriter to her
The next morning
Compared to Meng Wangzhou's awkwardness, Shen Qianzhan's demeanor was much more relaxed. She pointed to Xiang Qianqian, who was wearing sunglasses and surveying the surroundings, and said: "My friend is here to buy a watch, and I am here to repair one"
The evening rush hour in Beijing has concluded, yet the city's vibrancy and prosperity remain undiminished
Shen Qianzhan recalled the emotional entanglements between Ji Lao and the founder of Buzhong Sui that Ji Qing had mentioned tonight, squatted down, picked up the materials, and took them back to the apartment
She took a step forward, curled her little finger, and added: "I am a very pragmatic person, and also very utilitarian. If we cannot become partners, then we can only be adversaries."
At this moment, Shen Qianzhan was driven away in anger, directly driving out of the alley of the Siheyuan.
The current investors are not foolish. Su sighed, saying, "Using artists with a tainted reputation carries risks. I believe that unless Qianqian can truly secure enduring fashion resources, it will be difficult to resolve this predicament." After saying this, he muttered to himself, "The brand ambassador for the non-enduring year in the China region is Chu Sisi, who has always been competing with our Qianqian in terms of beauty. Brand endorsements are usually changed once a year, and if I calculate this correctly, Chu Sisi's endorsement should be nearing its expiration."